Family-Friendly Documentaries On The Nature Of Things

Tune in to CBC’s The Nature Of Things for great family-friendly documentaries!

This winter, The Nature Of Things features a number of brand new documentaries about science, nature, exploration and adventure.

We’ve had a sneak peek at all the docs and we’re excited to recommend these 4 documentaries that make for great family viewing.

With exciting stories, beautiful video footage and lots of learning and discussion moments, documentaries can be a wonderful way to learn new things together as a family.

Documentaries can be a wonderful way to learn new things together as a family.

Little nature fans will love watching animals and adventures, while older kids (and parents) may learn a few new things about the world around them.

Watch The Nature Of Things on CBC-TV on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Episodes are available online at 8 p.m. ET on the broadcast date.

1. Ocean Magic At Night

For the first time on camera, cameraman and marine biologist Rick Rosenthal captures Earth's biggest migration—the nightly movement of billions of animals from the ocean's depths to its surface and back.

Watch Ocean Magic At Night on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 7.

2. In The Eye Of The Storm

Acting as a guinea pig, using real-life experiments with weather researchers and traditional scientific investigation, Dr. Jennifer Gardy puts myths about the weather to the test.

Watch In The Eye Of The Storm on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 14.

3. Call Of The Baby Beluga

One day in Quebec, a baby beluga whale washes up on a gravel beach along the St. Lawrence River. Unexpectedly, she is vigorously alive. A scientific team decides to take unusual steps to try to save her.

Call Of The Baby Beluga tells the story of 900 belugas that live in the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. 

Warning: This documentary explains how a die-off of beluga babies in 2012 led to bad news about the state of the overall beluga population. There are two sections of the documentary that show dead belugas. 

Watch Call Of The Baby Beluga on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 28.

4. Eagles Next Door 

The unfolding story of a single breeding pair of eagles in the suburbs of Vancouver over the course of a year.  Watch the eagles' amazing lifecycle and see the adaptations they've made to be successful in the city through footage caputred by nestcams. 

Warning: This documentary featured injured eagles that are rescued/rehabilitated.

Watch Eagles Next Door on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 4.

5. Wolverine: Ghost Of The Northern Forest

Wolverine: Ghost of the Northern Forest recounts the fascinating story of a Canadian wildlife filmmaker's relentless five-year quest to find and film one of the most legendary and elusive creatures on the planet.

Warning: This documentary includes a short scene with a dead (and frozen) wolverine.

Watch Wolverine: Ghost Of The Northern Forest on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 25.

6. The Equalizer

Every year, athletes keep going higher, farther and faster, shattering previous world records and setting new ones. But are today’s record holders really better than those of the past? Or do modern athletes get their edge from their high tech gear?

Watch The Equalizer on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 3.

7. While You Were Sleeping

Decades of intense research have failed to discover the key function of sleep. But now, thanks to revolutionary new technology, innovative animal research and extraordinary advances in genetics, all that’s about to change.

Watch While You Were Sleeping on CBC-TV and online at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.